Richard Peck, Who Wrote Spellbinding Realistic Fiction For Teens, Has Died At 84

Peck’s books, including Are You in the House Alone?, were popular, and he was a showman who always promoted his books. But “Peck’s final novel, “The Best Man” (2016), echoed his personal life more than most of his books. A coming-of age story about a young boy, it, deals in part with the same-sex marriage of his uncle and his teacher. Around the time of its publication, the intensely private Mr. Peck publicly came out as gay.”